More than 100 brands, strengths and formulations of the heartburn medicine ranitidine will be banned in Australia for six months, the TGA has announced.

It follows revelations that at least some products contain the probable carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) — a problem first identified in the US and Europe last year.

In Australia, eight branded and generic tablets and liquids were recalled in October, but the TGA warned that a wider recall was a possibility, as it started testing more of the drugs for contamination.

On Wednesday, it announced the remaining ranitidine products would be suspended from 28 January as well.